LINGUIST List 8.1094

Sat Jul 26 1997

Qs: Jespersen, cleft sentences, Yiddish

Editor for this issue: Martin Jacobsen <martylinguistlist.org>

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Dear fellow linguists,
Now I am preparing my thesis. I am intereted in Jespersen's view on
linguistic change, and will work on that. Jespersen saw linguistic
evolution as a progress rather than a decay. P. Christophersen says this is
"a view which few nowadays would endorse." But I show much doubt on this.
If any linguist likes to have his comments on Jespersen's theory shared,
I will show great appreciation. Also if anyone can provide me with the
information on the books or articles dealing with J's progressive view on
linguistic change, or his theory in general, I will be grafteful. I wish
to contact with everyone who is interested in Jespersen and in the topic
of linguistic change. Please tell your address. I will write a summary,
if necessary. Thank you in advance.
Li Chao
lichaoibm320h.phy.pku.edu.cn

Greetings!
I have a question about the following sentences:
(1) She did not realize that she had forgotten her book until she got to class.
(2) It was not until she got to class that she realized that she had forgotten
her book.
(3) It was not until she got to class she realized that she had forgotten
her book.
(4) It was until she got to class that she didn't realize that she had
forgotten her book.
My sense is that (3) and (4) are wrong, but I would like a reasonable
explanation of why. Can anyone help? Apologies if the subject has already
come up. TIA- Tom Leverett, CESL, SIU-Carbondale, Carbondale IL USA